Semi-finals – playoffs May 19 RRA Vs KVC APR Vs Ruhango

APR women volleyball team are optimistic they will end RRA dominance in the national volleyball league as both giants gear up for semifinals of the playoff games on Saturday.

After the regular league, former champions APR are in second with 32 points, trailing leaders and defending champions Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) by a solitary point. 

APR have not won the championship since 2012 and head coach Alex Nkuranga believes it is high time the dominance of rivals RRA is brought to an end. The taxman’s side are on the quest for a record sixth consecutive league title.

"After a fantastic regular season, the focus is on the playoff games, which we have to win to dethrone RRA. The players are fit and ready for the mission,” Nkuranga told Times Sport in an exclusive interview on Monday.

In game 1 of the best-of-three semi-finals, scheduled for May 19, holders RRA will play debutants Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC), while hopefuls APR will be up against Ruhango. 

Asked about the impact of the gap left behind by star attacker Denise Mutatsimpundu who vanished from camp in the Commonwealth Games last month in Australia, the veteran Libero responded: "We would be in a much better position for the title now if she was around. Up to now we struggle to fill her gap.”

APR and RRA have faced twice this season, each side winning one game.

APR claimed the first-leg in a five-setter while RRA won the return-leg in four sets.

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